Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-22
CATARRH.

THE TERM CATARRH is APPLIED TO A
l. peculiar disorder of the nostril and ad-
iacent parts, which prevails to an alarming
extent, and Is productive. of very serious
consequences.
The most prominent and characteristic
feature is morbid discharge from the head,
varying in its nature at different tines
In some there is an almost constant flow
Of clear, ecr!d tuid, but oftener an offensive,
purGient or muco-purulent. greenish-yellcw
matter is secreted, which accumulates jp
the nostrils or drops into the thrnat. heces
stating its frequent removal by blowing the
nose or expectQrSt:on, and often by both
processes. sometimes patients feel as
though their head was in state of rotten
| ness, so great is the amount of matter dis
Charged and SO fetid is its odor. The pa
tieft Is greatly annoyed by the constant
dropping into the throat of the mo bid
position naturally fuvors the flow downward
his rest is frequently disturbed from this
cause. Many sufferers are eobliged to lie ith
l the head very much elevated in order to
i sleep with some degree ut comfort:
In others a torsh, viscid and offensive
pfslegm collects behind apd above the soft
palste, in the passage between the throat and
mead adherfng TO the parts With gluish teilao-
lty. Its l0dgment embarrassts .respiratiOn
and creshes sensation Of irritation and un-
easiness in the affected locality, which gives
rise to a constant and almost irresistible de-
sire to relieve that discomfort by drawing
the mouth. This practice popuarly known
as Hawking" ~ characteristic of catarrh,
and proves as EN- arrassing TO the one af-
fected as it is dissgreeable to those around
HIM.
Again, the offensive matter hardens and
deposits itself on the membrane in the shape
OF dry, hard concretiUns. which are dis
charged by way of the nostrils or throat in
Jumps or fragments of deep green tint. In
some cases these incrustations accumulate
to such an extent as to form a regular plug
i'll the nose, which obstructs breathing and
produce serious discomfort. So firmly do
these incrustations adhere to the point of
attachment that their removal usually re-
quires the most violent efforts; not unfre-
quently they have to be torn from the mem
brane. Occasionally solid cast of notable
size is expelled, on which there are gen rally
traces of blood, but il some cases the cast
presents Il tubular appearance, being of exact
shape OF the nasal cavity. This condition is
indicative Of liberation, which, in time,
may destroy the bony structure of the nose
and produce subsequent fiattening of that
organ.
Cases are occasionally met with in which
a thick, viscid, Shiny secretion coats the
membrane of the nasal cavities and then
putrefies, giving rise to stencil which is
really OverpOwering, and sufficiently fetid
to poison the atmosphere of whole room;
and there are others in which all the secre-
tions of the mem brane are suspended, caus-
ing an unpleasant feeling of dryness, heat
and feverishness in the head and nose-a
condition popularly known as DRY
CatarIh "
The disease speedily extends to the air
cavities OF the bones OF the forehead and
face, giving rise to a dist essing sensation of
heavy weight or compression over the fore
head, especially in the region above and be-
tween the eyes, and to a feeling OF fulness,
heat irritation, sor ness or pal i'll the nos
| lrils near the root of the muse, as well MS in
| he upper part of the throat, above and be-
| hind the soft palate Sometimes there is
pain obstinateiy lxeq in seme particular
part, as in the temple, On the top Vi the
head, at the back OF fhe neck, or behind The
orbits, and. occasionally, pain manifests
itself in the face Uf So severe character
that it is frequently mistaken for n, uralgia.
The breath is always tainted, and at times
assumes an xceeding fetid and sickening
Udor. In some cases it bacones SO revolt
ngly Otfensiv' as to render the sufferer an
object of disgust to himself as well as to
others.
The nasal membrane is tisickened and
contested, causing the nose to be stopped up,
sometimes on one side, sometiaaes ON the
other, and often ON both, giving rise to a
disagre cable, stuffy sensation in the head,
and occasoniig violent and prolonged
parOXysms OF sneeZIiiE
The voice is weak, lndstinct and husky.
or OF nasal character, displaying a sort of
smiling quality. Oftentimes there is a con-
1nuOuS hoarsencss aud discordance There
is also sense of irritation in the part,
and frequent attempts to clear the throat OF
phlegm, producing the sound "hem," more
or less forcibly. In some cases patients
complain OF an uncomfortable feeling of
lullness or choky sensation in the throat,
ana in Others OF distressing and almost
constant dryness, for the temporary relief OF
which they have to swallow frequently.
Others; again, speak Of u constant bad or
nauseous taste in the N Outh OF throat
The stomach generally suffers more or less
and becomes weak and irritable: the appe-
tlte is capricious and nearly always bad in
the morning. The patient Is languid, unable
TO perform mental or physical labor with
the usual facility, is nervous, depressed in
spirits, at times fearful, timid, agitated and
inclined to drowsiness and sleep, the mem
ory weakened and permanent Impairment
seriously threatened.
The mucous membrane soon becomes
morbidly sensitive to unfay0rab1e inilu-
ences, and in spite of the utmost care be-
comes affected from the slightest causes, SO
that at last a breath of wind upon the lining
Of the nose or throat becomes productive OF
cold, and gives rise to serious disturbances
Of the respiratory organs. Thus the patient
is subject to frequent and repeated colds,
each attack aggravating the disease by CIV
ing it a new impulse and involving larger
extent of surface than its predecessor. In
this manner the difficulty spreads from or
trachea and bronchial tubes, until, en-
croaching further and further. it reaches
the finer ramiications of the bronchi. when
but slight impulse is required to send it to
affect other organs In the body, especially
those contain ng mucous membrane, such
as the stomach, bowels, Kidneys etc.
By the employmen OF proper inhalatlons
in the form of medicated vapor mot steam
or spray) we are able to prodnce immediate
and direct action upon the diseased surface
in the pharynx and nasal passages, for air
will find its way into the most remote and
intricate cavities, where it is utterly limos.
sible to make fluid applications. by these
means every case can be cured.
Persons desiring treatment by this system
of practice can use the remedy at home as
well rs al our office, and which will cause
no inconvenience or hindrance to business
whatever.
have seen SO many of these cases cured
that do not consider any case boueless nm.
less the disease has advanced to the chest
ana that both lungs are seriously involved,
Even then the inhalations aid us i'm dis.
Solving the mucus and in contracting ana
healing the cavities which nothing else can
uo WIN the same success. The very best
references from those already cured.